Welcome to Klezwest!
KLEZWEST is a Vancouver BC group of musicians, beginners and intermediate, who want to explore, learn and enjoy Klezmer music and dance. Inspired by KlezCanada, we meet monthly (roughly) and learn songs from sheet music and by ear.
February Instrument and Dance Workshops!
The day after their concert, Christina & The Zamlers: The Lost Klezmer Music of the An-ski Expeditions, celebrated klezmorim Maia Brown and Christina Crowder offer two interactive workshops for the local community, open to all!
Sunday February 22, 2026 Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Studies
1:00-2:30pm: Yiddish Dance, led by Maia Brown
Come think about moving in a Yiddish lineage! If you are a Klezmer musician, dancer, dance-curious, or simkha celebrant, we will explore basic steps and gestures, notice the reciprocal relationship between Klezmer music and dance, and how each of our bodies like to move in this ever-changing vernacular.
3:00-4:30pm: Playing for Yiddish Dance, led by Christina Crowder
Exploring the Intersection Between Body Mechanics and Rhythmic Texture in Core Klezmer Dance Genres
Ever wonder what makes the best klezmer tunes so compellingly danceable? Ever experience a truncated dance set and wonder why things didn’t work out? This workshop will explore how the rhythmic textures and grooves we create in the core klezmer dance genres facilitate or block successful dance sets. We’ll take turns playing for each other and as a group, and will learn the basic movement patterns for each dance genre. Understanding these essential movement patterns will make us better accompanists for tantshoyz and simkhes!